Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power rivalry in the Arctic. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
